The correct application of chemicals enables our clients to reduce their total costs and optimize both the water and energy efficiency” says Kaisu Annala, VP Research & Development and Technology in Kemira’s Municipal & Industrial segment.
Up to a certain point water efficiency and energy efficiency go hand in hand. Improving the water efficiency further starts to consume additional energy, and this decreases profitability.
“With our water treatment chemicals and solutions, our clients can reduce their intake of surface and ground water in a way that the sum of the energy, investment, maintenance and chemicals costs stay under control.”
For Kemira’s clients, water efficiency and energy efficiency are two aspects of the same issue. The question is about the quality, quantity and costs of both water to be treated and water to be reused.
“Increasingly often, there just is not enough water available. This can also be an issue in areas where water resources are sufficient but located in the wrong place.”
Kemira takes both energy consumption and energy production into consideration in water treatment. Recently, bioenergy production has become one of the focus areas in the company’s product development: “We provide our clients’ biogas plants with chemicals that enhance energy production.”
Efficient use of energy and water is also important from the perspective of environmental responsibility. The context of climate change covers much more than the use of energy and different forms of energy. Flash floods, periods of drought and migration to cities create challenges for water management. “The continuously tightening environmental laws and regulations have their share of impact on the increasing demand for Kemira’s water treatment solutions everywhere.”
Text: Jorma Leppänen
Original article published in Kemira’s stakeholder magazine Waterlink 3/2009